Epilogue.

They had been dating for six months. Despite knowing that one day her curse would be broken, Regina had allowed herself to relax and enjoy spending time with Emma. She threw her a birthday party at the diner, inviting Emma's friends, even though that meant Snow White attending. While the woman thought she was Mary Margaret it was easier to push down her hatred and focus on Henry and Emma.

Emma smiled as she opened Regina's present and held it up so everyone could see. It was a pale blue t-shirt with a picture of Henry printed on the front.

"What do you think?" Regina asked her.

Emma laughed. "The neckline's a bit high."

"I noticed how much you liked t-shirts."

Emma caught the wink from Ruby to Regina as she spoke, and smiled. She couldn't believe the change in Regina over the last couple of months. Since they had begun dating she had started spending time with Ruby and making friends with her. They still hadn't spoken about that 'sleepover' and because both of them wanted to move slowly, for Henry's sake, they hadn't repeated it.

As the last present was opened and people began to disperse to hunt out food, Emma went to find Regina. She found her sitting in a booth at the back, watching everyone.

"Don't you get lonely?" Emma asked, sitting next to her and slipping her hand into Regina's.

"I was just thinking."

"About me?"

"About us…and Storybrooke."

"Is this where I finally get invited for a sleepover? Maybe Kathryn could baby-sit Henry again?" Emma turned in her seat to face Regina, leaning in to kiss her, while her free hand reached for Regina's cheek.

"Even in your sleep you had trouble keeping your hands to yourself, I remember waking up at Ruby's…"

"Is that a yes or a no?"

Regina sighed. "I want to…"

"Yes!"

"But…"

"Aw, come on Regina. It's been forever…"

"Six months…"

"I arrived here more than six months ago…"

"Since we've been dating."

"Go on."

"Thank you. Before we go there, I have to tell you the truth."

"What about?"

"Me, and Storybrooke…and Henry's book. Can we go somewhere private?"

"I don't understand."

"I want to explain it to you."

"Okay." Emma looked down at Regina's hand in hers. "Let's go for a walk."

Regina counted out twenty paces from the diner, before looking around to make sure they were alone. Emma was leaning into her shoulder as they walked, swinging their arms.

"Henry's book is real." Regina suddenly blurted out.

"I think the point of fairy tales is that they aren't real. They always have magic and fantasy elements that could never be real and they always start in the distance past, all those "once" openings and happy endings. Sure they have hidden morals to teach children…"

"Emma, listen to me. Everything in that book really happened."

Emma stopped walking. "Is this some kind of joke you've hatched with Henry? Or are you having a breakdown? Regina, I…"

"I am… was, the Evil Queen."

"Oh boy."

"No, listen, please."

"Then do something magical."

"I can't."

"Because you don't have any powers. In the storybook the Evil Queen has magic."

"Exactly. This world doesn't have magic. That's why I brought everyone here."

Emma took a step away from her. "It's not funny anymore Regina."

"I can prove it."

"Go ahead."

"You have to kiss me."

"A kiss?"

"To break the curse."

"Now I know you're joking. We've been kissing…"

"This one will be different." Regina promised.

"How?"

"I'm finally ready to move on with my life and forget the past."

Emma looked hurt. "Move on?"

"Not from you." Regina quickly reached out a hand to Emma. "I love you."

Emma looked at her, half-afraid and half-elated. "You do?"

"Yes, but unless you know the truth… I don't want what we have to be built on a lie and I'm sorry I didn't tell you before now…"

Emma stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. "You really mean it… about the curse, that is."

Regina nodded. "I know it will change everything, once everyone remembers…"

"Mary Margaret, is she really…?"

"Snow White. Yes."

Emma's mind was reeling. Was Henry right and she was Mary…Snow White's daughter? Did Regina know?

"You should probably go back to the diner once the curse is broken, Henry will be looking for you."

"What about you?"

"Take this." Regina pressed something into her hand. "When the curse breaks we'll all return home but you and Henry will still be here, because this is where you belong. If you want to come too, use this and it will bring you to me."

"Of course I want to come, why can't you just stay here?"

"It's just the way the curse works."

"Then don't break it."

"Emma…"

"I'm serious. I don't want anything to change."

"It's not fair on everyone. I see that now. They deserve their happy endings back."

"What if this doesn't work?"

"It will, if you want it to."

"Don't leave me, please."

"Come and find me." Regina whispered, leaning in and kissing Emma before she could object.

When Emma opened her eyes, she was standing in the middle of an empty road. There was no town and no Regina. She began running in the direction of the diner.

"Henry!"

AN: Another year older, another story complete.

Okay, I didn't expect it to end that way. I was going to have Regina break the curse and let them live in Storybrooke but my eyes were trying to close and this ending appeared. Hopefully it doesn't jar too much from the beginning of the chapter. I was really hoping to end this story, but I guess now it needs a sequel? I'll call it 'Find me' What do you think? Should I have left it at chapter 6?